Cage & Aviary Birds

Cage & Aviary Birds is written by bird experts for bird fanciers and is packed with club, show and bird related news, advice, birds for sale and comment. Established in 1902, Cage & Aviary Birds provides a wealth of practical advice and tips from the top names in the bird world, plus opinion, controversy, species and hobbyist profiles and nostalgia.

A swift move: Scotland mandates nesting bricks

CWT announces peatland project to boost awareness

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

Dream job? Count puffins for free stay on Skomer Island

Old barges make bird island haven

FINCHES Plus

My improvised slow-cooker solution

Editor's Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

My tried-and-tested strategy • Now that there aren't experienced canary fanciers in every neighbourhood, sound advice for the less experienced is harder to come by. And that's encouraged TERRY KELLY to summarise his own strategic approach to Fife canaries in a new series, as he explains here

SECRETARYBIRD: an elegant quilling machine • Named for its feathery pen-like plumes, this unique bird of prey has nothing else that's clerical about it – just ask a snake that crosses its path! BILL NAYLOR introduces a gloriously eccentric species which is always a popular draw in larger collections

Best feeding for Pyrrhura perfection • The exquisite conures of the genus Pyrrhura make irresistible subjects, but remember that their dietary needs are not like those of many other psittacines. ROSEMARY LOW explains

Looking forward with purpose • As you plan for this breeding season, the management principles you commit to should be the same as those that you abide by in your long-term goals. STUART MASON explains

Zebbie aspirations from the ground up • Want to breed exhibition zebras? Good decision, says DAVE BROWN! The next thing to grasp is that getting the basics right from day one will pay dividends throughout the season

222: a number that spells success • Last year, more than 200 wild young of the rare and lovely yellow-shouldered parrot fledged in one specially managed area. DAVID WAUGH salutes that impressive result and explains the ambitious conservation plan to build on it elsewhere in Venezuela and the nearby islands

Mainstreams and sidelines • The right breeding project can pep up your year wonderfully – even if it's only small-scale. DAVE BROWN uses his modest plans with fancy pigeons to illustrate the point

My breeding plan for 2026 • As always, the annual cycle implemented by TONY EDWARDS began promptly once the show season had finished. In this article he summarises his progress into the New Year

Ambitions for myself and the fancy • If you've found the changing face of the hobby a pest to keep up with, consider SAM WILDES's approach. Sam aims to make 2026 a year of defined and achievable goals

Bullseyes and near things: a softbill saga • For this special issue, Cage & Aviary Birds asked softbill specialist GARY BRALSFORD about his ‘ambition birds’ – the ones he was proudest of succeeding with and the ones where it just didn't work out. It's fair to say there's a rich variety of material to discuss!

Club News • Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that's all about you

What's on

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices

2025 roundup: FFF member and area patronage clubs

Lumsden Diploma Awards